Time cut-out for electric-service systems



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S. R. LINVILLE. TIME OUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE SYSTEMS. No. 480,869.

Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. R. LINVILLE.

TIME OUT-OUT FUR ELEGTRIG SERVICE SYSTEMS.

No. 480,369. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

(No MndeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. S. R. LINVILLE.

TIME OUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE SYSTEMS. No. 480,369. Patented Aug. 9,1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIME CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC-SERVICE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 480,369, dated August9, 1892.

Application filed March 29,1892. Serial No. 426,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL RUSH LINVILLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Time Cut-Outs for Electric-Service Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide simple,compact, efficient, and comparatively inexpensive apparatus forantomatically cutting one or more lamps or other electrical appliancesout of a main circuit at a required time without in any wise interferingwith other lamps or apparatus included in the main circuit, and, second,to provide means capable of being manually set during the day, so as toautomatically short-circuit the lamps or other apparatus in circuit in astore or other building at a required time in the evening. 1

My invention consists of a time-controlled switch for automaticallyshort-circuiting or breaking a lamp, motor, or other translating devicecircuit at a required time.

My invention further consists of a main circuit, a service-circuit, anda time-controlled circuit for shunting the main circuit to out out theservice-circuit.

My invention further consists of the improvements hereinafter describedand claimed.

The nature, scope, and objects of my invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a Lime-controlled switch embodying features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the right-hand end of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a front view of so much of a timepiece or clock as isnecessary to illustrate the mechanism for releas ing the switch at therequired time. Fig. 4 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale and takenon the line 4 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing anelectro-magnet and circuit closer interposed between the clock andswitch and adapted to operate the latter and also illustratingdiagrammatically circuit connections therefor. Fig. 6 is a side view ofa time-controlled switch adapted for use in connection with theso-called Edison or other incandescent-lamp circuits and embodyingfeatures of my invention. Fig. 7 is a front view of the right-hand endof Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of circuits adapted foremployment in connection with the time-controlled switch illustratedmore especially in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 9 is a similar view of theEdison orother incandescent-lamp circuits arranged for employment inconnection with the type of switch illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more especially to Fig. 8, a is themain circuit of a system of series distribution energized by a dynamoelectric machine or other electric generator a. b is a service-circuitbranching off from the main circuit a and including translating devices,as lamps b, that may be located in a store, dwelling, or otherstructure. 0 is a time-controlled circuit, which when closed serves toshunt the service-circuit b, and thereby cut out the translating deviceI) included therein. The respective terminals of the time-controlled orshunt circuit 0 are connected with the insulated spring-contacts d, Fig.2, of the switch (7., Fig. 1, which may be located at a convenient pointin the store, dwelling, or other structure containing theservice-circuit b. d is abell-crank lever, one arm d of which isprovided with an insulated conducting bridge-piece (1*, adapted tocontact with the spring-contacts d and close the time-controlled orshunt circuit 0, and the other arm (Z is adapted to be engaged by aspring-trigger e. XVhen the bell-crank lever d is in the positionillustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the time-controlled or shuntcircuit 0, of low resistance, is closed and the service-circuit b, ofhigh resistance, is thereby deprived of current, so that the lamps I)are extinguished without in any wise interfering with the ordinaryoperation of the lamps b included in the main circuit a. The bell cranklever (1 may be shifted manually into the position illustrated by thefull lines in Fig. 1 into engagement with the trigger e by means of thehandle c and in such case the time-controlled or shunt circuit 0 isbroken and the entire current of the main circuit a traverses theservice circuit 1'), and consequently causes the lamps Z) to emit lightin the usual manner, it being understood that the bell-crank lever d issolicited by gravity or by a spring 3 into the position indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 1 and is restrained from such movement by thetrigger e, so that when the latter is shifted the bridge-piece d of thebell-crank lever d automatically closes the time-controlled or shuntcircuit 0, and consequently extinguishes the lamps b. The trigger e isshifted at any required hour by means of suitable clock mechanism f. Itmay be remarked that various clock mechanisms may be employed for thispurpose. However, certain forms of such mechanisms as have been foundpractically efficient for such purposes will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

13y reference now to Fig. 5 use is made of an electro-magnet g and itsarmature g for releasing the spring-trigger c. This electromagnet isinterposed in a circuit 9 derived from one of the conductors of the maincircuits a, by the interposition of a resistance R, and this circuit gis automatically closed by means of a circuit-closer e controlled by theclock mechanism f.

The invention is also applicable to two or three wire systems ofmultiple distribution, as will appear by reference to Fig. 9, in which ais the main circuit, b is a branch circuit, and b is the service-circuitfor energizing translating devices, such asincandescent lamps b. Thisservice-circuit may be automatically broken by means of clock mechanismf and a trigger e in substantially the manner hereinbefore described.However, in this instance, the switch is slightly modified.

In Figs. 6 and 7, m are insulated rocker-arms provided at their freeextremities with insulated bridge-pieces m, adapted to contact withconducting-strips 5, connected with the like terminals of theservice-circuits, as illustrated in Fig.9. In this instance the arm d ofthe bell-crank lever (1 1s connected with the rocker-arms by a spring 8so that when the bell-crank lever 61 is released by the trigger c itcauses the parts of the switch to be suddenly shifted into the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, whereby the bridge-pieces m areshifted out of contact with the conducting-strips 8' into contact withthe rest 99, so that the terminals of the service-circuits aredisconnected from each other, thereby resulting in the extinguishment ofthe lamps b.

By reference now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 for a description ofthe clock mechanism f is the pinion that actuates the hourhand andcauses the same to make two complete revolutions in twenty-four hours.This pinion f also actuates the gear-wheel] in such manner that the sameis caused to make one revolution in each twenty-four hours. The hub f ofthe gear-wheel f is provided with a crown-cam. f and is afforded aslight range of end-play on its supporting-arbor f*. This arbor or arm f6 is provided with a radial pin f that engages the crown-cam f and isprovided with a handle f for turning the arbor f. 12 is an indexconnected with the front end of the arbor f, which serves, in connectionwith a dial f, to enable the crowncam f to be so positioned as that thegearwheel f is afforded a range of end-play at the hour indicated by theindex f. s is a spring that is released by the endwise movement of thegear-wheel f and thus serves to release a lever f controlling the anchorf of an escapement f together with its complemental train of gears andpropelling mechanism.

The operation of the hereinabove-described clock mechanism resembles inmany respects the operation of an ordinary alarm-clock, with thisexception, that the escapement is released once in twenty-fours hoursinstead of twice in that period of time. h is an arbor, which serves asthe means for winding up the spring f", operating the escapement f Itwill of course be understood that this arbor h is rotated manually inone direction in winding up the spring f, and is automatically rotatedin a reverse direction when the escapement f is released and the numberof revolutions made by the arbor h in each instance are substantiallyequal. The shank h of the arbor h is threaded, as illustrated in Figs. 1and 6, for the reception of a nut 7?, held against rotary motion bymeans of a feather Its, so that the automatic rotation of the spindle hcauses the nut 71 to be shifted endwise and thus releases the trigger e.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the automatic rotation of thespindle his availed of for operating the circuit-closer 6 which in turneffects the release of the trigger e through the intervention of theelectro-magnet g and its accessories. In this instance the rotary motionof the spindle It is limited by means of the so-called stop-wheels h andh as illustrated in Fig. 3, whereby excessive rotation of thecircuit-closer is with certainty prevented.

The mode of operation of the hereinabovedescribed apparatus is asfollows: The switch is set to the position indicated by the full linesin Figs. 1, 5, and 6, and is retained in that position by means of thetrigger e. The index f is then turned opposite the numeral upon the faceof the dial f, that corresponds with or indicates the hour at which thelamps in a store or other building are required to be extinguished.\Vhen the required hour has arrived, the recess in the crown-cam farrives opposite the pin f 'by the ordinary operation of the clockmechanism, whereupon the gear-wheel f is shifted by the spring 8 in thedirection indicated by the arrow, with the result that theescapement-lever f is released. The movements of the escapementmechanism cause the arboror spindle h to be rotated, thereby moving thenut 7L2 outward until it trips the trigger e and causes the switch toextinguish the lamps,in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains that modifications maybe made as to details without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to theexact construction and arrangement as hereinbefore explained, nor asillustrated in the drawings, for carrying into effect the principles ofmy invention.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a service-circuit, asupply-circuit for energizing the service-circuit, terminals interposedin the supply and service circuits, a lever provided with an insulatedconducting extremity adapted to engage said terminals and constitute abridge for conveying the current between said terminals, a triggernormally restraining the lever from cutting out the service-circuit, andclockwork mechanism for tripping the trigger, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a trigger, clockworkfor tripping the same, a switch forcutting out the service-circuit, anda bell-crank lever connected with said switch and controlled by saidtrigger, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 3. In a timecut-out for electric-service systems, a trigger, clock mechanism fortripping the same, a rocker-arm for operating a switch,andabell-cranklevercontrolledbysaidtrigger and operating saidrocker-arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a service-circuit,terminals, a lever provided with an insulated conducting bridgepiecetending to cut out the service-circuit, a trigger for engaging andrestraining said lever, a clock-spindle and its complemental mechanism,and means interposed between said spindle and trigger for releasing thetrigger, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a circuit providedwith terminals, a switch, as shown, for bridging the current across saidterminals, a trigger for engaging said switch, and time mechanism forcontrolling said trigger and releasing said switch, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

6. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a switch tending tocut out a circuit, a trigger for restraining said switch, a threadedclock-spindle and its complemental mechanism, a nut on saidclock-spindle, and a feather engaging said nut, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

7. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a clock provided withescapement mechanism, gears actuated by the clock and adapted to releasethe escapement mechanism, a service-circuit, and a switch controlled bythe escapement mechanism and adapted to cut out the service-circuit,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a switch providedwith a bridge-piece, as shown, a service-circuit, terminals, a source ofelectric energy, a trigger for engaging said switch, andtime-registering mechanism for controlling said trigger and releasingthe switch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a circuit and agenerator, aswitch tending to cut out the circuit, a trigger forrestraining said switch, a time mechanism provided with a spindle andnut, and a feather for engaging said nut for releasing said trigger,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a generator andservice-circuit, a clock mechanism provided with an escapement, devicesactuated by the clock mechanism and adapted to release said escapement,and a switch controlled by said escapement and adapted to close ashunt-circuit and interrupt said service-circuit, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

11. In a time cut-out for electric-service systems, a time-controlledlever provided with an insulated conducting bridge-piece for breakingthe eircuitthrough a lamp, motor, or other translating device, a triggerengaging the lever, and clock mechanism for releasing the trigger,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. A time cut-out for electric-servicesystems,comprisingatime-registering apparatus, a cut-out-releasingdevice controlled by suitable power and adapted to be released at adeterminate period by said time-registering apparatus, a triggerreleased by said releasing device, and a lever released by said triggerand provided with an insulated conducting bridge-piece, adapted to beincluded in and withdrawn from a circuit to make and break the same,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. A time cut-out for electric-service systems, comprising electricgenerators, main and service circuits, a time-registering mechanism, ashunt-circuit around a resistance in the main circuit, magnetic devices,circuitclosing devices in said shunt-circuit released at a determinateperiod by the time mechananism, and a lever controlled by said mag neticdevices and provided with a short-circuiting bridge-piece, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

11 Ina time cut-out for electric-service systems, a source of electricenergy, a main circuit with translating devices included therein, atime-registering apparatus, a releasing mechanism controlled by suitablepower and adapted to be set and to be released at a specific time bysaid time mechanism, in combination with a spring-actuatedshort-circuiting switch restrained by said detent and a powerimpelledmechanism operating to close said shunt-circuit upon being released bysaid 15 time-registering apparatus, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL RUSH LINVILLE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M. SMITH, RICHARD O. MAXWELL.

